The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-09-30

How ne Proved nlm~clf Ia no : Charm
Ing Man Of the House.
IL will take Ralph. Jcmimar'
Take Ralph. Ichabod! can't think
Of such thing. ! can't spare my boy.
There are so few Of us now. brother"
..But what. under the canopy. ara
you going to do with . great growing
boy, eating gov out of house and home.
at the age when he needs man to look
after him. too? tell you. Semima. its
nonsense. Bundle up the boy 5 clothes
and let him jump into the cart and 60
with me. His aunt Polly'll see that
he hos plenty to do, and he can stop in
now aud then 70 see you on market
days. II you like. Wen do well by tie
boy. Jcmima- Don't turn away fair
offer. Come. Ralph, you know which
side your bread is buttered on. You
want to 60 home with me, don't your"
Il hardly seemed possible that this
coarse-looking. red-faced man. regu-
lar Uncle Pumblechook Of = man. could
be own brother - the slender, refined
woman in widows mourning against
whom the boy was leaning. his arm
thrown fondly around her shoulder.
The thought Of living with Uncle Icha-
bod and Aunt Polly was hateful and
Ralph shuddercd AZ the bare idea
But he was we,l-trained boy, and
politely answered.: Il can not leave
mamma. uncle Papa told me that l
was to be the man Of the house.
Papa had died a month ago.
s.Humph! Pretty man Of the house
you'll be! Need = man over you
sayr' And storming and clustering.
Uncle Ichabod departed. slamming the
door behind him, and driving old
| whiteface clattcrty-bang down the
road AZ great pace
| IL hope I've done wisely, Ralph.
| said Mrs Afford. smoothing back her
BOYS fair hair. I'VE have very little
money. and your uncle Is rich"
II wont eat any more than / can
help, mamma, and I'd stop growing 50
fast II possibly could"
..Blcss the dear child! Eat all you
want laddie. and don't worry about
growing. The sooner you grow to be
. tall m n. AZ papa was, the sooner
you will be able 70 take good care o.
mamma and your sisters"
If there was very little money In TN
Affords home. there was something
much bctter-a great deal Of love
Mrs. Afford knew how TO be merr,
over bread and milk. and not to clout
her childrcn's pleasure, she kept
cheerful face ever when she felt sat
and lonely. Ralph went . school
every day. and tried not 70 worry hi
mother by complaints; but il was hare
for q boy Of eleven to wear trouser'
which were too short in the legs, ant
jackets which persisted in getting tigh
over the chest with sleeves whicl
ercpt halfway TO the elbow.
One day Miss Meredith. his tcache
IN the day school where he attended
asked him TO remain few moments
She know how bravcly and patientl
the little man Of the house was bcarin,
his heavy burden. and 50 she wished B
encourage him all she could, and kee
his spirits mp.
Ralph. dear" she said.
Eyes, Miss Meredith"
ssYou are q wonderfully good readc
: for your age. Haven't you been use
70 reading aioud7"
.sYcs Miss Meredith" answcre
Ralph; y used 70 read 70 papa ever
: day. the paper and stories and poetr
and the Bible"
! II thought %. Now have > pr
posal 20 make. There y : blind lad
> in the house where board; she r
= quires somebody 70 amuse her; and 81
\ will pay Three dollars week to . Pc
Q son who can rad % her two hon
. every day. ! have bccn thinking ~
: could excuse you evcry morning q
4 quarter before Twelve and let you n
! home, ont your luncheon, and thcn u
I might 20 TO MrA Mortified for 4
3 hour. Then Il ycu could give her a
y ether hour from foqr to fivc ia Y
9 afternoon. shc wc0ld DO satisfied"
= Ralph almost jumped for Joy at u
+ prospect Of earning three dollars
4 week. why. how glad he would DO
? holp mamma 20 much ~ that! tn
: Uosld be like The man Of the house.
4 Miss Meredith proceeded: mi
= Mortified y an abrupt old lady. a
3 sometimes rather impatient In b
. manner. You must not mind hcr plai
making. hoN,ovcr. And her taste